Reversible camouflage

ABSTRACT

A multi-spectral reversible net system may include a center, two-sided reversible panel. The center panel may be printed on opposing sides with first and second screen designs. The center panel may be laid flat on a first side to expose the second screen design and thus have a net corresponding to the second screen design. The center panel may be lifted and laid flat on a second side to expose the first screen design, thus having a net corresponding to the first screen design. Construction and methods of using the net are also described.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to multi-spectral camouflage. Morespecifically, the present application relates to reversiblemulti-spectral camouflage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current multi-spectral camouflage for concealing military objectsincludes a base layer quilted to a garnish layer, where the garnishlayer includes the camouflage pattern. To accommodate concealment of themilitary equipment, personnel and installations, which are often verylarge, the multi-spectral camouflage is printed on large nets which maybe anywhere from a few square feet to hundreds of square feet. A singlescreen design is printed on the quilted layer of the nets. An exemplarymulti-spectral camouflage is Ultra Lightweight Camouflage Net Systems(ULCANS). Military personnel must carry multiple ULCANS with differentscreen designs to accommodate alternate environments. That is, amilitary person may carry a light woodland, a dark woodland, a desert,an urban, a snow or an alpine ULCANS to accommodate the possibility ofencountering any type of environment. Due to the large sizes of thesenets, carrying multiple nets may occupy much needed space and becumbersome to interchange. Therefore, a need exists for a reversiblemulti-spectral camouflage for large net systems, such as ULCANS.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment, a camouflage net may include a first panelhaving a first screen design, a second panel having a second screendesign, and a reversible panel having a first side with the first screendesign and a second side with the second screen design. The reversiblepanel may be configured to move from a first position showing the firstscreen design to a second position showing the second screen design. Inthe first position, the second panel may be substantially concealed andin the second position, the first panel may be substantially concealed.

According to an embodiment, the first screen design and the secondscreen design may be different.

According to an embodiment, in the first position, the second side ofthe reversible panel may be placed on the second panel such that thefirst screen design on the first panel and the first screen design onthe first side of the reversible panel are exposed. In the firstposition, the reversible panel is secured to the second panel withbecket loops located on a periphery of the reversible panel and becketloops located on a periphery of the second panel.

According to an embodiment, in the second position, the first side ofthe reversible panel is placed on the first panel such that the secondscreen design on the second panel and the second screen design on thesecond side of the reversible panel are exposed. In the second position,the reversible panel is secured to the first panel with becket loopslocated on a periphery of the reversible panel and becket loops locatedon a periphery of the first panel.

According to an embodiment, the first panel, the second panel, and thereversible panel may be connected together at a common juncture. Thefirst panel may comprise one or more layers and the second panel maycomprise one or more layers. The first panel may comprise a base layerand may be quilted to a first panel incised garnish layer and the secondpanel may comprise the base layer and may be quilted to a second panelincised garnish layer. The reversible panel may comprise one side havingthe first panel incised garnish layer attached on an opposing side to asecond side having the second panel incised garnish layer. Thereversible panel may comprise an incised garnish layer. The incisedgarnish layer may have the first screen design on a first side and thesecond screen design on a second side, opposing the first side.

According to an embodiment, a method of reversing a net includesproviding a net having a first panel, a second panel, and a reversiblepanel, the first panel, second panel, and reversible panel all attachedat a common juncture, laying the reversible panel on top of the secondpanel such that a first screen design on the reversible panel and afirst screen design on the first panel are exposed, and lifting thereversible panel from the second panel and guiding to lay on the firstpanel such that a second screen design on the reversible panel and asecond screen design on the second panel are exposed. When the firstscreen design on the reversible panel and the first screen design on thefirst panel are exposed, the second screen design on the reversiblepanel and the second screen design on the second panel are concealed.

According to an embodiment, the first screen design and the secondscreen design may be different.

According to an embodiment, the method may include securing thereversible panel to the second panel after laying the reversible panelon top of the second panel and unsecuring the reversible panel from thesecond panel prior to lifting the reversible panel. The securing may beperformed by becket loops located on the reversible panel and becketloops located on the second panel. The securing may be performed by atleast one of Velcro, snaps, and buttons located on the reversible paneland a corresponding one of Velcro, snaps, buttons, etc. located on thesecond panel.

According to an embodiment, the method may include concealing an objectwith the net showing the first screen design prior to lifting thereversible panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention and together with the detailed description serve to explainthe principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a multi-spectral camouflage, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a reversible multi-spectral camouflage, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A-3E show transition of a first side of the multispectralcamouflage of FIG. 2 to a second side of the multi-spectral camouflageof FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows an alternative reversible multi-spectral camouflage,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A shows the reversible multi-spectral camouflage of FIG. 4,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5B shows a detailed view of the reversible multi-spectralcamouflage of FIG. 5A, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the inventions are discussed in detail below. Indescribing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake ofclarity. However, the inventions are not intended to be limited to thespecific terminology so selected. A person skilled in the relevant artwould recognize that other equivalent parts can be employed and othermethods developed without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference asif each had been individually incorporated.

Various embodiments of a reversible multi-spectral camouflage inaccordance with the principles of the invention are described herein.The reversible multi-spectral camouflage may allow two or more differentclasses of screen design to be provided in a single net.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic of a net 10 is shown. The net 10 maybe, for example, an Ultra Lightweight Camouflage Net Systems (ULCANS).The net 10 may include an attachment mechanism, such as a becket hitchor becket loop 12 attached to at least part of a periphery of the net10. The becket loop 12 may allow for the net 10 to be attached toadditional nets to form a larger net system of a desired size forcovering and concealing military equipment, personnel or installation.The becket loop 12 may also allow for the reversible panel 18 (FIG. 2)to be attached to a respective side, as is described herein.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the net 10 may have a first portionor first panel 14 with a first screen design printed on a layer thereof.The screen design may be, for example, but not limited to a Class 1,Class 2, or Class 3 screen design, or any other screen designs known toa person of ordinary skill of the art. A Class 1 screen design mayinclude a light woodland pattern and/or a dark woodland pattern. A Class2 screen design may include a desert and/or an urban pattern. A Class 3screen design may include a snow and/or alpine pattern. The screendesigns may be, for example, but not limited to a Type I (Radarscattering) or Type II (Radar transparent) screen design or may be anyother type or signature management requirement. Other screen designs maybe developed and it is contemplated that such screen designs may beemployed in the net 10 or net 100 (FIG. 4) without departing from thescope of the invention. The class and type of the screen design may beselected for the appropriate terrain or environment where the net 10 maybe employed.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the net 10 is shown having a generallyhexagonal shape with attachment mechanisms, such as becket loops 12around the outer periphery of the net 10. The net 10 comprises a firstportion or first panel 14 with a first screen design and a secondportion or second panel 16 with a second screen design. The screendesigns of the first portion 14 and the second portion 16 may bedifferent. The net 10 may include a reversible panel 18. The reversiblepanel 18 may be a reversible, two sided panel. The reversible panel 18may have a first screen design on a first side 18 a (FIG. 3A) whichmatches the screen design on the first portion 14. The reversible panel18 may have a second screen design on a second side 18 b (FIG. 3D) whichmatches the screen design of the second portion 16. The reversible panel18 may have becket loops 12 arranged around the outer periphery of thereversible panel 18. The becket loops 12 on the reversible panel 18 maybe attached to becket loops 12 on the outer periphery of either thefirst portion 14 or second portion 16, respectively, based on thedesired screen design to be shown.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, assembly of the net 10 is described.The net 10, being of generally hexagonal shape, may have first portion14 and second portion 16 of generally trapezoidal shape. The firstportion 14 and the second portion 16 may be sewn, adhered, fastened, orotherwise attached or come together at a juncture 20 to form thehexagonal shape of net 10. The reversible panel 18 may be sewn, adhered,fastened, or otherwise attached or come together at the juncture 20 toattach to the first portion 14 and the second portion 16. Although itmay be appreciated that the first portion 14, second portion 16, andreversible panel 18 may be attached at juncture 20 in any order orsimultaneously. It may be appreciated, that in this manner, the net 10may comprise three pieces of material, a first piece comprising firstportion 14, a second piece comprising second portion 16, and a thirdpiece comprising reversible panel 18. In addition, the first portion 14,second portion 16, and reversible portion 18 may each be formed fromone, two or more pieces of material.

Alternatively, the first portion 14 and second portion 16 may be printedon a single piece of material of hexagonal shape. That is, a firstscreen design may be printed on a first half, comprising the firstportion 14, of the net 10. A second screen design may be printed on thesecond half, comprising the second portion 16, of the net 10. Thereversible panel 18 may be a second piece of material with the firstscreen design printed on one side and the second screen design printedon the opposing side. The reversible panel 18 may then be sewn, adhered,fastened, or otherwise attached or come together at any symmetry axis ofthe hexagonal net. It may be appreciated, that in this manner, the net10 may comprise two pieces of material, a first piece comprising thefirst portion 14 and second portion 16 and a second piece comprising thereversible panel 18. In addition, any or all of the first portion 14,second portion 16, and reversible panel 18 may be formed from two ormore pieces of material. It may be appreciated from the foregoing thatnet 10 may comprise any number of pieces of material, including, but notlimited to the two piece and three piece nets previously described.

As may be appreciated from FIG. 2, the reversible panel 18 may bearranged such that the juncture 20 bisects the hexagon from a firstpoint to a second point, such that the juncture 20 bisects the hexagonbetween the points. Alternatively, the reversible panel 18 may bearranged from a center of a first flat edge to a center of a second flatedge, such that the juncture 20 bisects the hexagon between the flatedges. It can be appreciated that in this alternative, the shape of thefirst portion 14, second portion 16, and reversible panel 18 changesfrom the trapezoid depicted in FIG. 2. The shape of the first portion14, second portion 16, and reversible panel 18 may be a pentagon,specifically, a pentagon with a rectangular base and triangular top,similar to a simple “house” shape. The juncture 20 may be located at anyportion of the hexagon that allows for first portion 14, second portion16, and reversible panel 18 to take on the same shape, such that whenreversible panel 18 overlays first portion 14, a substantiallysymmetrical shape is achieved and when reversible panel 18 overlayssecond portion 16, the same symmetrical shape is achieved. Thus, thereversible panel 18 should substantially cover first portion 14 when thesecond design is exposed. The reversible panel 18 should substantiallycover second portion 16 when the first design is exposed.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A-3E, operation of the net 10 is described. In afirst operational condition, FIG. 3A, the net 10 may be arranged suchthat first portion 14 is exposed and the first side 18 a of thereversible panel 18 is exposed. The first portion 14 and first side 18 amay have the same screen design. The reversible panel 18 may overlay thesecond portion 16 such that the second portion 16 is substantiallyconcealed. The becket loops 12 of the reversible panel 18 may be securedto the becket loops 12 of the second portion 16. Thus, the reversiblepanel 18 may be secured to the second portion 16 such that the secondportion 16 is covered by the reversible panel 18. In the firstoperational condition of FIG. 3A, the net 10 may now be connected orattached with the becket loops 12 to additional nets 10 with the same ordifferent screen design to create a larger net system. The net 10 or thelarger net system may then be used to cover military equipment,personnel or installation, although other uses for the multi-spectralcamouflage net are contemplated.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3A-3E, transition from the firstoperational condition of FIG. 3A to the second operational condition ofFIG. 3E is shown. A user, such as a military personnel, may detach orotherwise unfasten the becket loops of reversible panel 18 from thesecond portion 16. The user may lift the reversible panel 18 off ofsecond portion 16 and guide it through the positions shown in FIG. 3B,FIG. 3C, and FIG. 3D, where the second side 18 b of the reversible panel18 is exposed. The user may overlay the reversible panel 18 on the firstportion 14, such that the second side 18 b is exposed and the firstportion 14 is substantially concealed. The user may then secure thebecket loops of reversible panel 18 to the becket loops of the firstportion 14. Thus, in the second operational condition, FIG. 3E, the net10 may be arranged such that the second portion 16 is exposed and thesecond side 18 b of the reversible panel 18 is exposed. The secondportion 16 and the second side 18 b may have the same screen design. Thenet 10 may now be connected or attached with the becket loops 12 toadditional nets 10 with the same or different screen design to create alarger net system. The net 10 or the larger net system may then be usedto cover military equipment, personnel or installations, although otheruses for the multi-spectral camouflage net are contemplated.

With continued reference to FIGS. 3A-3E, it may be appreciated thatmilitary personnel now have the ability to conceal equipment, personnelor installations with two different screen designs using the same net10. The reversible panel 18 allows for one or more, or two or more,screen designs to be employed in a single net 10. An exemplary net 10may comprise a light woodland screen design on first portion 14 andfirst side 18 a and a dark woodland screen design on second portion 16and second side 18 b. An exemplary net 10 may comprise a desert screendesign on first portion 14 and first side 18 a and an urban screendesign on second portion 16 and second side 18 b. An exemplary net 10may comprise a snow screen design on first portion 14 and first side 18a and an alpine screen design on second portion 16 and second side 18 b.Although the net 10 is not limited to such embodiments of screen designsand screen designs not listed may be provided. Alternatively, differentcombinations of the aforementioned screen designs may be provided.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of a net 100 isshown. The net 100 may be the same in all respects to the net 10, exceptfor the shape. The net 10 may have a rhombic or diamond shape, atriangle, a square or a rectangle, such that the first portion 14,second portion 16, and reversible panel 18 all comprise generallytriangular, square or rectangular shapes sewn, adhered, fastened, orotherwise attached at common juncture 20. The net 100 may transitionfrom a first screen design to a second screen design in the same manneras described with respect to FIGS. 3A-3E. Similar to FIG. 2, the firstportion 14, second portion 16, and reversible panel 18 may be connectedalong flats of the rhombus, square or rectangle instead of along points.It can again be appreciated that the shapes of first portion 14, secondportion 16, and reversible panel 18 may be changed based on where thejuncture 20 is located. The juncture 20 may be located at any portion ofthe rhombus that allows for first portion 14, second portion 16, andreversible panel 18 such that when reversible panel 18 overlays firstportion 14, a symmetrical shape is achieved and when reversible panel 18overlays second portion 16, the same symmetrical shape is achieved.

Alternatively, the first portion 14 and second portion 16 may be printedon a single piece of material of rhombic or diamond shape. That is, afirst screen design may be printed on a first half, comprising the firstportion 14, of the net 100. A second screen design may be printed on thesecond half, comprising the second portion 16, of the net 100. Thereversible panel 18 may be a second piece of material with the firstscreen design printed on one side and the second screen design printedon the opposing side. The reversible panel 18 may then be sewn, adhered,fastened, or otherwise attached or come together at any symmetry axis ofthe rhombic net 100. It may be appreciated, that in this manner, the net100 may comprise two pieces of material, a first piece comprising thefirst portion 14 and second portion 16 and a second piece comprising thereversible panel 18. In addition, any or all of the first portion 14,second portion 16, and reversible panel 18 may be formed from two ormore pieces of material. It may be appreciated from the foregoing thatnet 100 may comprise any number of pieces of material, including, butnot limited to the two piece and three piece nets previously described.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, construction of nets 10, 100 isdescribed. Although net 100 is depicted in FIG. 5A, it may beappreciated that net 10 may be constructed in the same manner. As shownin FIG. 5B, the first portion 14 and second portion 16 of nets 10, 100may include a base layer 22 and a layer 24. The layer 24 may be agarnish layer. The layer 24 may be incised. The base layer 22 may be adurable non-snagging knit or woven fabric. The base layer 22 may providedimensional stability to the net 10. The base layer 22 may be coatedwith radar-absorbing material for Type I or non-conductive coating forType II, followed by a green or tan (or other) coating corresponding tothe desired class of screen design. The layer 24 may be a multi-spectralcoated fabric with an incision pattern. The layer 24 may be quilted tothe base layer 22. The layer 22 and/or layer 24 may provide ripstop andachieve required thermal transmission and radar properties.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the reversible panel 18 maybe constructed of a single layer 24 printed on opposing sides with thefirst design and the second design. The single layer 24 may be quiltedgarnish. Alternatively, the reversible panel 18 may be constructed oftwo layers 24. A first layer 24 corresponding to a first screen designon first side 18 a and a second layer 24 corresponding to a secondscreen design on second side 18 b may be sewn, or otherwise attachedtogether to form the reversible panel 18. The layer(s) 24 provided inreversible panel 18 may be the same or substantially the same as thelayer 24 provided in first portion 14 and second portion 16. Thereversible panel 18 may omit the base layer 22. To form the net 10 ornet 100, the first portion 14, second portion 16, and reversible panel18 may be sewn or otherwise attached at a juncture 20. It may beappreciated that more or fewer layers 24 or base layers 22 may beprovided in first portion 14, second portion 16, and/or reversible panel18.

Although becket loops are depicted and described herein, it may beappreciated that other attachment mechanisms are contemplated. Forexample, Velcro®, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, fasteners, etc. may beprovided on all or a portion of the periphery of first portion 14,second portion 16, and reversible panel 18. Although becket loops 12 aredepicted around an entire periphery of the net 10 and net 100, thebecket loops 12 or other attachment mechanism may be provided on only aportion of the periphery. For example, the becket loop(s) 12 may beprovided on one or more sides of the net 10 or net 100. The becketloop(s) 12 on the reversible panel 18 may be a different color,construction, shape, size, etc. than the becket loop(s) 12 on theperiphery of net 10 or net 100, such as those on the periphery of firstportion 14 and/or second portion 16. The becket loop(s) 12 maycomplement the screen design on the first portion 14, second portion 16,and/or reversible panel 18. It may thus be appreciated that any varietyof color, construction, shape, size, etc. of becket loop(s) 12 may beselected for first portion 14, second portion 16, and/or reversiblepanel 18. The becket loop(s) may be the same or different among thefirst portion 14, second portion 16, and/or reversible panel 18.

The pigment coatings provided on the layer 24 may, for example, defeatUltraviolet (UV), Visual (VIS), Near Infrared (NIR), Medium WavelengthInfrared (MWIR), Long Wavelength Infrared (LWIR), Short WavelengthInfrared (SWIR), Radar sensors and/or other multispectral sensors. Thepigment coatings may, for example, provide increased durability, UV,fungal and flame resistance.

It may be appreciated from the foregoing disclosure that amulti-spectral, reversible net is described. The reversible net mayallow for military personnel to carry one net system that mayaccommodate two environments. It may further be appreciated that thecenter, two-sided reversible panel may be flipped from one side to theother, changing the net color from one environment to the other, forexample, from light woodland to dark woodland or desert to urban. Anycombination of environments, screen Classes, screen Types (radarscattering or radar transparent) may be provided in the nets 10 and 100.Thus it may be appreciated that military personnel have the ability tocamouflage equipment in more than one environment with the same net.

The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification areintended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known tothe inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in thisspecification should be considered as limiting the scope of the presentinvention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting.The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified orvaried, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by thoseskilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore tobe understood that, within the scope of the claims and theirequivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described. Moreover, features described in connection withone embodiment of the invention may be used in conjunction with otherembodiments, even if not explicitly stated above.

1. A camouflage net, comprising: a first panel having a first screen design, a second panel having a second screen design, and a reversible panel having a first side with the first screen design and a second side with the second screen design, wherein the reversible panel is configured to move from a first position showing the first screen design to a second position showing the second screen design, and wherein, in the first position, the second panel is substantially concealed and in the second position, the first panel is substantially concealed.
 2. The camouflage net of claim 1, wherein the first screen design and the second screen design are different.
 3. The camouflage net of claim 1, wherein in the first position, the second side of the reversible panel is placed on the second panel such that the first screen design on the first panel and the first screen design on the first side of the reversible panel are exposed.
 4. The camouflage net of claim 3, wherein in the first position, the reversible panel is secured to the second panel with becket loops located on a periphery of the reversible panel and becket loops located on a periphery of the second panel.
 5. The camouflage net of claim 1, wherein in the second position, the first side of the reversible panel is placed on the first panel such that the second screen design on the second panel and the second screen design on the second side of the reversible panel are exposed.
 6. The camouflage net of claim 5, wherein in the second position, the reversible panel is secured to the first panel with becket loops located on a periphery of the reversible panel and becket loops located on a periphery of the first panel.
 7. The camouflage net of claim 1, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the reversible panel are connected together at a common juncture.
 8. The camouflage net of claim 1, wherein the first panel comprises one or more layers and the second panel comprises one or more layers.
 9. The camouflage net of claim 1, wherein the first panel comprises a base layer quilted to a first panel incised garnish layer and the second panel comprises the base layer quilted to a second panel incised garnish layer.
 10. The camouflage net of claim 9, wherein the reversible panel comprises one side having the first panel incised garnish layer attached on an opposing side to a second side having the second panel incised garnish layer.
 11. The camouflage net of claim 9, wherein the reversible panel comprises an incised garnish layer, the incised garnish layer having the first screen design on a first side and the second screen design on a second side, opposing the first side.
 12. A method of reversing a net, the method comprising: providing a net having a first panel, a second panel, and a reversible panel, the first panel, second panel, and reversible panel all attached at a common juncture, laying the reversible panel on top of the second panel such that a first screen design on the reversible panel and a first screen design on the first panel are exposed, lifting the reversible panel from the second panel and guiding to lay on the first panel such that a second screen design on the reversible panel and a second screen design on the second panel are exposed, wherein when the first screen design on the reversible panel and the first screen design on the first panel are exposed, the second screen design on the reversible panel and the second screen design on the second panel are concealed.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first screen design and the second screen design are different.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising securing the reversible panel to the second panel after laying the reversible panel on top of the second panel and unsecuring the reversible panel from the second panel prior to lifting the reversible panel.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the securing is performed by becket loops located on the reversible panel and becket loops located on the second panel.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the securing is performed by at least one of Velcro, snaps, and buttons located on the reversible panel and a corresponding one of Velcro, snaps, and buttons located on the second panel.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising concealing an object with the net showing the first screen design prior to lifting the reversible panel. 